ARTICLES ABOUT SHOOTING GUARD BY DATE - PAGE 5

UConn will be shooting for a three in the NBA draft Wednesday night at the Meadowlands: to have three of its former players selected among the 58 in the two rounds. If shooting guard Ray Allen, point guard Doron Sheffer and center Travis Knight are chosen, it will be an unprecented three for the Huskies in this, the 50th NBA draft. They have never had three selected as high. The only time UConn had three players selected in a draft was in 1982: Corny Thompson, third round, 50th overall (Dallas)

The UConn connection popped up earlier than expected for Connecticut Pride coach Paul Mokeski. The pre-draft plan was to take former UConn forward Donny Marshall with the 15th pick and guard Kevin Ollie with the 25th. But during the CBA college draft Tuesday night, Mokeski decided he couldn't wait that long. He didn't want to take a chance on either winding up with another CBA team. With his top choices -- forwards Reggie Jackson and Troy Brown -- already selected, Mokeski took Marshall with the seventh pick.

Last season Paul Mokeski was looking for help going into the CBA college draft. Left with no picks after the 1993- 94 season, Mokeski scrounged around and came up with five picks, but none higher than the 29th. "Last year we had to instigate every call and scratch to get a pick," Mokeski said. "We were happy last year when we got a pick in the sixth round because it was better than what we had. "[Assistant coach Mark Osowski] and I are so much more confident this year because of our position.

Donny Marshall sat and waited Wednesday night. As Theo Ratliff, Jason Caffey, Loren Meyer and others were selected in the first round of the NBA draft, Marshall sat and wondered when his turn would come. Marshall finally was taken by the Cleveland Cavaliers, but the night turned out to be a long one for the former UConn forward. Despite talk that he might be taken in the first round, Marshall waited until the second round and 39th pick overall before hearing his name. "Guys I'd never heard of," Marshall said, referring to some of the first-round selections.

Beneath the dim gymnasium lights at Jonathan Law High School, 18 players sported a collection of T-shirts that told of their basketball roots, achievements and hopes. "Madison Magic," "UMass 1993, The Big Dance" and "An Education in Elevation" revealed a few. Whether they were from the Big East or the New England Collegiate Conference, veterans or rookies, didn't really matter at the Connecticut Skyhawks' camp. "They've got to show me they belong," coach Stu Grove said. "The only thing is, because this is a Connecticut team, if I think two guys are tied I will give the edge to the one who played [in]

Though they've improved recently, the Hellcats still are last in the Continental Basketball Association in scoring. Hellcats coach Paul Mokeski addressed that weakness Thursday, acquiring shooting guard Bo Kimble from the Rapid City Thrillers for fifth- and sixth-round picks in the 1995 CBA draft. Kimble, the No. 1 pick (eighth overall) of the Los Angeles Clippers in 1990, averaged 10.2 points, 3.1 rebounds and 20.8 minutes in 16 games with the Thrillers, shooting 48.8 percent and 45.5 percent (10 of 22)

John Treloar always has been a defensive-minded coach. In his first four CBA seasons, Treloar's Wichita Falls Texans ranked either first (1991-92, 1993-94) or second (1990-91, 1992-93) in fewest points allowed. The Texans moved to Chicago in the off-season and took their defense with them. The Rockers are holding opponents to a league-low 90.1 points a game. The league average is 107.9. In their two losses to the Rockers, the Hellcats have scored 82 and 66 points, shooting 34.6 percent.

In a scrimmage last week against Naugatuck, Masuk-Monroe's Michelle Florin got soaked -- and not just in sweat. Running full-tilt to save a ball, Florin took out a water cooler on the opposing bench. She wrung a little water from her jersey and, sneakers squeaking, headed back. "She's a hard worker and a good leader," coach Dave Strong said. She's also the state's top player. Florin, a 5-foot-7 senior shooting guard, has accepted a full scholarship to Richmond. Last year she averaged 21 points, 5.2 assists and 4.6 rebounds a game for the 23-1 Panthers.

Hellcats guard Reggie Fox was spoiled in his previous job. Fox was a member of Magic Johnson's All-Stars and traveled around the world for almost a year. He saw Europe, Asia and South America, going first class all the way. "The only place I haven't seen basically is Australia," Fox said. "It was a great experience. It was incredible." And Fox got to play with Johnson, one of the best point guards ever. Magic made it look easy and made it easy for Fox. "He demands a double-team at all times, so you really don't have to work to get open," Fox said.

Hellcats coach Paul Mokeski had a hard time characterizing his team. "I can't say we're a fastbreaking, young athletic team or a veteran half-court team," Mokeski said. "We're a mix. And that's what I like about the team." CBA teams had to trim their rosters to 10 Wednesday. Mokeski reduced his roster to the limit by putting point guard Pat Baldwin on the suspended list and waiving guard/forward Casey Schmidt. The Hellcats, who were 18-38 and missed the playoffs last season, open Saturday (1:05 p.m.)